Case Explained:This article breaks down the legal background, charges, and implications of Case Explained: Ex-DMPS Superintendent Ian Roberts to take plea deal – Legal Perspective
Former Des Moines School Superintendent Ian Roberts will be taking a plea deal in his federal criminal case, new court filings show.
Roberts, who was hired to lead the district in 2023, submitted his resignation Sept. 30, days after he was arrested while allegedly trying to flee from Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents. Federal officials have since said Roberts, a native of Guyana, was not a U.S. citizen and lacked legal authorization to work in the United States. Those were among multiple other apparent mistruths and exaggerations about his background and qualifications.
In addition to a pending order of deportation, Roberts also was indicted Oct. 16 on two counts for possessing a firearm as an illegal alien and making a false statement for employment. Prosecutors alleged that Roberts illegally had four guns, including a loaded handgun left in his district-owned vehicle after he fled from ICE, and that he falsely attested he was a United States citizen when filling out his I-9 employment authorization to work in Des Moines.
Roberts had denied wrongdoing, and defense attorney Alfredo Parrish had suggested he planned to file pretrial motions challenging the validity of the underlying immigration orders. A court-ordered deadline for such motions expired Jan. 12, however, and on Thursday, Jan. 15, the court entered an order setting a change of plea hearing on Jan. 22. His trial is currently scheduled to begin March 2.
Previous court filings had shown the parties were discussing a possible deal, but it’s not clear from the order what the terms of that deal are or what charges Robert intends to plead to. Parrish did not respond to a request for comment.
Whatever its terms, the plea will cap a stunning fall from grace for Roberts, previously a highly respected educator. His arrest and subsequent charges have led to investigations and recriminations, including a lawsuit by the district against the search firm that allegedly failed to vet Roberts’ credentials and a re-audit of the district by Iowa State Auditor Rob Sand.
Plea not mentioned in Roberts’ latest LinkedIn post
Roberts has been in custody, currently at the Polk County Jail, since his arrest, but his LinkedIn account has remained active, posting several essays purportedly written by him and describing his time in jail in a tone reminiscent of that platform’s many business mindset influencers.
The most recent essay, “posted for and written by Dr. Ian Roberts” on Wednesday, talks about erasing unfairly negative preconceptions and first impressions of others, and claims, as Roberts has previously, that he’s spent the past months providing guidance and support for fellow inmates.
The post does not make any mention of his charges or impending plea deal.
(This story was edited to add new information.)
William Morris covers courts for the Des Moines Register. He can be contacted at wrmorris2@registermedia.com or 715-573-8166.